A
Alex Rodriguez
Guest
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>I've been thinking about riding again after years. My bike is 15 years
>old and hasn't seen daylight in at least 5 years. I'm wondering about
>the tradeoffs of buying new components for this old frame vs. buying a
>new, low-end bike from the bike shop. My antique is a hybrid Trek
>chro-moly something-or-other (I've forgotten the model! ...but it was
>3 digits).
>
>Here are my options:
>
>1. The local bike shop's entry point is in the $250~$300 range.
>PRO: new tech, new bike
>CON: wife's against spending, I'm not keen on full-blown research
>
>2. Re-hang old frame with new parts.
>PRO: new quality parts, possible on $75~$150
>CON: need to research
>
>3. Give in and buy a department store POS bike for $80.
>PRO: probably OK for around the block with wife and kids
>CON: oh the shame!, how long will it last?
>
>My preferred choice is #2 -- ESPECIALLY if I can come in around the #3
>budget!
>
>Can anyone recommend a decent-quality components list that totals under
>$100? Here's what I would most likely replace (in order):
>
>1. derailleurs (front and rear)
>2. all cables
>3. brake pads
>(up to here is essential. Following would be if I had money left)
>4. front chainring (it came with those horrible eccentric chainrings.
>I replaced one or two of them years ago.)
>5. tires (since I'll have a good sized order if I go mailorder... but
>probably buy local anyway)
>
>better yet..
>5a. tires and rims (but that seems like a budget-buster for sure)
>
>
>I can find components from catalogs and online, but I would sure
>appreciate your advice on what the smart money purchase is. Also, I'm
>out of date on frame geometry and construction. Anything wrong with
>the antique (I saw some guy on ebay selling a bike kinda like mine. He
>was saying how great the chro-moly frames were and how "they just don't
>make 'em this anymore!" Is there a reason?)?
Why do you think you need to replace your derailleurs? A 15 year old bike
will have index compatible derailleurs, so there is no need to replace them
unless they are damaged. Not changing the derailleurs will save you some
cash. Changing the cables should only cost you $10 or so. Unless the
chainring really bothers you, leave it alone. A new chainring will eat a
large portion of your budget, ~$30. If you go mail order you can get some
decent tires for $35. New wheels are not in your budget. What is wrong with
the old wheels that you think you need to change them? It sounds like you
should be able to get by spending well under $50 just to get your bike back
on the road.
---------------
Alex
[email protected] says...
>I've been thinking about riding again after years. My bike is 15 years
>old and hasn't seen daylight in at least 5 years. I'm wondering about
>the tradeoffs of buying new components for this old frame vs. buying a
>new, low-end bike from the bike shop. My antique is a hybrid Trek
>chro-moly something-or-other (I've forgotten the model! ...but it was
>3 digits).
>
>Here are my options:
>
>1. The local bike shop's entry point is in the $250~$300 range.
>PRO: new tech, new bike
>CON: wife's against spending, I'm not keen on full-blown research
>
>2. Re-hang old frame with new parts.
>PRO: new quality parts, possible on $75~$150
>CON: need to research
>
>3. Give in and buy a department store POS bike for $80.
>PRO: probably OK for around the block with wife and kids
>CON: oh the shame!, how long will it last?
>
>My preferred choice is #2 -- ESPECIALLY if I can come in around the #3
>budget!
>
>Can anyone recommend a decent-quality components list that totals under
>$100? Here's what I would most likely replace (in order):
>
>1. derailleurs (front and rear)
>2. all cables
>3. brake pads
>(up to here is essential. Following would be if I had money left)
>4. front chainring (it came with those horrible eccentric chainrings.
>I replaced one or two of them years ago.)
>5. tires (since I'll have a good sized order if I go mailorder... but
>probably buy local anyway)
>
>better yet..
>5a. tires and rims (but that seems like a budget-buster for sure)
>
>
>I can find components from catalogs and online, but I would sure
>appreciate your advice on what the smart money purchase is. Also, I'm
>out of date on frame geometry and construction. Anything wrong with
>the antique (I saw some guy on ebay selling a bike kinda like mine. He
>was saying how great the chro-moly frames were and how "they just don't
>make 'em this anymore!" Is there a reason?)?
Why do you think you need to replace your derailleurs? A 15 year old bike
will have index compatible derailleurs, so there is no need to replace them
unless they are damaged. Not changing the derailleurs will save you some
cash. Changing the cables should only cost you $10 or so. Unless the
chainring really bothers you, leave it alone. A new chainring will eat a
large portion of your budget, ~$30. If you go mail order you can get some
decent tires for $35. New wheels are not in your budget. What is wrong with
the old wheels that you think you need to change them? It sounds like you
should be able to get by spending well under $50 just to get your bike back
on the road.
---------------
Alex